Mod got hot, why?

[paboater76]

Hi All,

First, thank you for all the info the forum has given me, I'm more of a reader, then a poster.. but here is my first one.

I have a Grand Vapor Private V2 clone (first mech mod have it about a week). I use several toppers, Iomega rda, Squape RTA, and the my daily driver, the IBtanked 22m carto. The other day, I took a vape (it worked) sat it down, picked back up 10sec later (b/c its my pacifier) I hit the fire button, and it shocked me, and quickly got HOT!!! the whole mod from bottom(hottest) to the top.. I quickly pulled the battery, the battery was HOT!!!! so hot you could barely hold it..

So I thought the battery went bad, I slapped in another Sony VTC4 hit the fire button, it didn't shock me this time, but it immediately heated up again, took the battery out, and put them both on a block of aluminum till they were cold.

So I thought what the heck, I took off the IBTanked carto and replaced the carto, filled it back up, and it worked perfectly again..

I have several questions,

1st. now that my batteries are cooled down, I put on the charger (Efest LUC V4) and they charged up fine. Are they safe to use after getting so hot?

2nd. where was the failure? inside the carto? The best I can read, is that the coil may have "popped" causing it to short out to the carto body.. does that seems plausible?

3rd what would have been the repercussions if I did not pick the mod right back up to feel it so hot? would it have exploded? the battery ruptured?

Obviously something shorted out, I used a VMAX telescopic regulated MOD before the mech mod.. Safety was one of my concerns going to a Mech.. should I switch back?

 

[RoseB]

Hello After you get 5 posts head to this part of the forum APV Discussion You can get plenty of advice on mech mods. I don't personally use them, because my relationship with electricity has a very tumultuous past. When I got into mods, I bought a Provari for the safety features. Due to the popularity of mechs someone will probably stop by this thread with better advice and knowledge.
If the batteries were so hot you couldn't touch them, then continuing to use them is a bad idea. I've had them get a little warm after some serious chain vaping. Never hot though. It's worth spending the extra bucks just to be sure, and get your batteries from a reputable vendor. There are counterfeit batteries out there, and it's worth dropping a few extra bucks just to be sure you got the real deal.

 

[Lucky1384]

Just as Rose said, dump the batteries to put your mind at ease, and buy a couple from a reputable vendor. Although shorting is a lot less likely with a carto, it's still possible. Also check the outer casings of your batteries for wear, and regularly check the voltage isn't too high or low. Mechs can be amazing, but they take great care to use.

I don't particularly enjoy using clones, as I can't put my own mind at ease, but many people find them great to use (again, with care as with all mechs).

 

[JeremyR]

Welcome to the forum!

A regulated mod is much safer in general. Also only use imr batteries 10 amp minimum.

Sounds like a short at the battery some where. Some batteries that don't have full wrapping at the ends can short them selves in some mods.. Those batteries should be replaced for safety reasons.. If their real imrs at least they shouldn't blow up just vent hot gases.

A short at the carto would mostly heat the carto and *only when hitting the fire button, so you have an internal mod short.

 

[Firestorm]

It does sound like you experienced a short. This could happen with a cartomizer if you screw it down too tightly (causing the positive post to move and touch the negative threading). I like to use mechanical fuses like the Vape2Safe just to give me peace of mind if something goes wrong. You should replace those batteries just to be safe.

 

[Rickajho]

There is no safety built into a mech mod - at all. It's up to you to provide it by following safe practices. Based on your description of the problem something shorted, and the only way to determine what was at fault is with a good meter. That's why you have to have a meter if you are using a mechanical - it's the only way to troubleshoot and find a fault when there is one. You need to check any device put on a mechanical for proper resistance. Cartos are mass produced disposable items with mass produced disposable problems. If your mech is getting hot with a device the last thing you do is swap the battery and see what happens with the very same device. You look for the source of the problem first - with a meter.

 

[Lucky1384]

Also, be sure to remove the battery from the mod before testing. I have witnessed testing of the battery through putting one lead on the firing pin and another near the threads, held with one hand while trying to press the button. It took a split second for the probe to slip and short out. Probe ruined, threads ruined and very lucky not to have been worse!

 

[anumber1]

There is no safety built into a mech mod - at all. It's up to you to provide it by following safe practices. Based on your description of the problem something shorted, and the only way to determine what was at fault is with a good meter. That's why you have to have a meter if you are using a mechanical - it's the only way to troubleshoot and find a fault when there is one. You need to check any device put on a mechanical for proper resistance. Cartos are mass produced disposable items with mass produced disposable problems. If your mech is getting hot with a device the last thing you do is swap the battery and see what happens with the very same device. You look for the source of the problem first - with a meter.

Exactly Right!

The popularity of the mech mod is a bit dangerous for a vaper with absolutly no idea how violent a battery venting is. Even a "safe" IMR vents *HOT* gasses, with violence!

If a battery/mod tube gets hot, the first thing that needs to happen is to find the cause of the problem.

A hot battery is to be disposed of! Not put on a charger to see how it does. A malfunctioning mech needs to be tested/inspected to find the problem. If such testing/inspecting is out of the skill/experience level of the user, that user does not belong using a mech mod without guidance IMHO.

I am no pro but have seen Li-Po batteries vent. That event is not to be trifled with.

 

[Lucky1384]

Take a look at YouTube for videos of various battery exploding and venting, it will certainly make you triple check your setup! I was surprised at how powerful the explosion is from even extremely small Li-Po packs, and how violent the gas vents from batteries we all use.

 

[rhean]

If both batteries got hot with a specific topper, and worked well with another, then the problem was probably the coil on that one topper, not the battery or the mech. I use a mech, and always measure the resistance of the coil, homemade or prebuilt, before using it.

Re reusing batteries: Get new batteries!

Re switching from a mech to something else: Fear is not conducive to peaceful vaping. If this experience makes you nervous about mechs, switch to whatever you feel safe and happy with

 

[JeremyR]

If it was getting hot only when it was fired then your carto may have been shorted in the 510 connection. If screwed on too tight the pin can push to the side causing a dead Short.... If it was getting hot just sitting without firing it has an internal Problem.

You really need to know what your doing as mechs can be dangerous, there is no protection. A regulated mod has safety
Features built in.

 

[paboater76]

Thanks for all the replies, yes, I understand the power of these batteries, Another Hobby of mine is electric RC helicopters, using 22.2v 5000mah 6s lipo's I've seen them vent on a $3000 heli and it's not pretty. I'm also a telecom tech, so I know how to use a meter..

The problem was not in the mech mod.. before I put the batteries back on the charger, I did check voltage and resistance. The battery showed proper voltage and infinite resistance, so I put them on. since this incident, they have worked flawless.

If i didn't throw the carto away, I would be able to test it, to see if it had a dead short or what the deal was. But, unfortunately I cant

I do want another regulated mod, but my original reg is a POS, I need to find a reg that I like, I want the provari and the b&m I use has them in stock, just might go pick up one.

Again, thanks for all the info.

 

[anumber1]

Thanks for all the replies, yes, I understand the power of these batteries, Another Hobby of mine is electric RC helicopters, using 22.2v 5000mah 6s lipo's I've seen them vent on a $3000 heli and it's not pretty. I'm also a telecom tech, so I know how to use a meter..

The problem was not in the mech mod.. before I put the batteries back on the charger, I did check voltage and resistance. The battery showed proper voltage and infinite resistance, so I put them on. since this incident, they have worked flawless.

If i didn't throw the carto away, I would be able to test it, to see if it had a dead short or what the deal was. But, unfortunately I cant

I do want another regulated mod, but my original reg is a POS, I need to find a reg that I like, I want the provari and the b&m I use has them in stock, just might go pick up one.

Again, thanks for all the info.

It is great that you have some skills and a healthy respect for Li-Po batteries! That is very refreshing to see here on this board!

I would guess that your carto was shorted and the switch in your mod was the weak point (hence the heat).

You will get many safety oriented responses here, due this being the starting point at ECF.
So many people have no idea of the power and potential dangers of a large Li-ion cell so close to your face (enclosed in a tube that may or may not have a vent).